Here I go again...
Well, as always, I take to my blog when I have something on my mind or when I have discovered something that I have some thoughts about.
I just read THIS and the title alone is ridiculous. Of course I read on because I wanted to see what exactly this mother was talking about.
I think this article is one of THE most selfish things I have ever read in my life.
Lets take this point by point and break it down.
1. the title...suggesting that breastfeeding is a waste of time gives off the idea that it is not worth it. It gives off the impression that there are not benefits to breastfeeding. Both of which are false. Breastfeeding is worth every ounce of time and energy and struggle. Breastfeeding has HUGE benefits that cannot be replicated by formula.
2. Her first statement saying she hated breastfeeding...while I respect her view (not everyone has to love breastfeeding) there are many things that can help a mother to hate it less or not hate it at all. Having knowledge about breastfeeding, being educated about breastfeeding, having support with your breastfeeding journey and knowing that it may not come easily are just a few things that can help one to not hate it.
3. She mentions having a baby constantly attached to a boob....I think this is a bit of an exaggeration.
4. She states that breastfeeding mothers spend 6.6 hours weekly on breastfeeding and then she talks about how mind blowing and ridiculous that it. Ya know what is ridiculous? The fact that she does not see this as the most precious 6.6 hours of your week!!!! Those 6.6 hours of bonding, snuggles, comfort and nourishing are 6.6 hours that I wouldn't trade EVER for formula or bottle feeding.
5. "regardless of how beneficial it is"....really?! ...REALLY?!
6. She then states that she got her life and her body back once she switched to formula. This is where the selfish part starts. When we have children, they become your life. They become the most important thing in your life. Well, some people feel that way...and obviously some don't.
7. In this writers eyes, she didn't want to give her baby the best she possibly could. She did not even want to attempt to pump! She just wanted to switch to formula to free up her time and focus more on herself. But the thing is, its not about us, its about the baby. It's about giving them the best we can. Why would you willingly give up giving your child the best nutrients possible?! That's like giving up on your child...All for that 6.6 hours.
8. She talks about "not being able to get into the whole breastfeeding thing"....like, get into the whole feeding your baby thing?....yikes.
9. "And you can take comfort in the fact that you're basically getting an extra 6.6 hours of your life back by choosing to do what works best for you -- offering the bottle instead.".....works best for YOU.... selfish!!!!!! it is about the child! And again, your life becomes your child.
If breastfeeding is not something you can successfully do because of medical reasons or another legitimate reason...that is OK. If formula is truly your only option, that's fine.
But to give up breastfeeding just because you want to free up time, that is a pretty superficial reason.
To suggest that breastfeeding is a waste of time is ridiculous.
And, to not see the amazing benefits of breast milk over formula is ignorant.
If you are able to produce breast milk, and you are able to give that milk to your baby, WHY wouldn't you do everything you possibly could do to make it happen?!
There are women who wish and pray that they could provide breast milk to their babies and we have women who give it up for no good reason?!
It's a shame that there are mothers who don't want to spend the time with their babies. It's terrible to think that some mothers wouldn't put in every last ounce of effort they have to provide the best they can for their children. It is sad to know that there are mothers not willing to spend the time on the babies that they brought into this world.
Maybe I am a rare type of mother. I cherish every last second that I spend breastfeeding. I would do anything I had to do to provide my milk for my baby. I DID spend hours of my day pumping and storing milk to then bottle feed when my son wouldn't latch and when he was in the NICU. I spent the time to clean the pump parts just in time to start over again. How easy would it have been for me to tell the NICu staff to supplement with formula overnight instead of pumping? It would have taken no effort on my part. That would be the easy road. That would have given me more time at my son's crib side instead of in the NICU pumping room, but the time was WELL SPENT. It was worth my time to do it for my baby.
Breastfeeding has NEVER been a waste of time and it NEVER will be.
My time breastfeeding is some of the best time I've spent as a mother.
I just read THIS and the title alone is ridiculous. Of course I read on because I wanted to see what exactly this mother was talking about.
I think this article is one of THE most selfish things I have ever read in my life.
Lets take this point by point and break it down.
1. the title...suggesting that breastfeeding is a waste of time gives off the idea that it is not worth it. It gives off the impression that there are not benefits to breastfeeding. Both of which are false. Breastfeeding is worth every ounce of time and energy and struggle. Breastfeeding has HUGE benefits that cannot be replicated by formula.
2. Her first statement saying she hated breastfeeding...while I respect her view (not everyone has to love breastfeeding) there are many things that can help a mother to hate it less or not hate it at all. Having knowledge about breastfeeding, being educated about breastfeeding, having support with your breastfeeding journey and knowing that it may not come easily are just a few things that can help one to not hate it.
3. She mentions having a baby constantly attached to a boob....I think this is a bit of an exaggeration.
4. She states that breastfeeding mothers spend 6.6 hours weekly on breastfeeding and then she talks about how mind blowing and ridiculous that it. Ya know what is ridiculous? The fact that she does not see this as the most precious 6.6 hours of your week!!!! Those 6.6 hours of bonding, snuggles, comfort and nourishing are 6.6 hours that I wouldn't trade EVER for formula or bottle feeding.
5. "regardless of how beneficial it is"....really?! ...REALLY?!
6. She then states that she got her life and her body back once she switched to formula. This is where the selfish part starts. When we have children, they become your life. They become the most important thing in your life. Well, some people feel that way...and obviously some don't.
7. In this writers eyes, she didn't want to give her baby the best she possibly could. She did not even want to attempt to pump! She just wanted to switch to formula to free up her time and focus more on herself. But the thing is, its not about us, its about the baby. It's about giving them the best we can. Why would you willingly give up giving your child the best nutrients possible?! That's like giving up on your child...All for that 6.6 hours.
8. She talks about "not being able to get into the whole breastfeeding thing"....like, get into the whole feeding your baby thing?....yikes.
9. "And you can take comfort in the fact that you're basically getting an extra 6.6 hours of your life back by choosing to do what works best for you -- offering the bottle instead.".....works best for YOU.... selfish!!!!!! it is about the child! And again, your life becomes your child.
If breastfeeding is not something you can successfully do because of medical reasons or another legitimate reason...that is OK. If formula is truly your only option, that's fine.
But to give up breastfeeding just because you want to free up time, that is a pretty superficial reason.
To suggest that breastfeeding is a waste of time is ridiculous.
And, to not see the amazing benefits of breast milk over formula is ignorant.
If you are able to produce breast milk, and you are able to give that milk to your baby, WHY wouldn't you do everything you possibly could do to make it happen?!
There are women who wish and pray that they could provide breast milk to their babies and we have women who give it up for no good reason?!
It's a shame that there are mothers who don't want to spend the time with their babies. It's terrible to think that some mothers wouldn't put in every last ounce of effort they have to provide the best they can for their children. It is sad to know that there are mothers not willing to spend the time on the babies that they brought into this world.
Maybe I am a rare type of mother. I cherish every last second that I spend breastfeeding. I would do anything I had to do to provide my milk for my baby. I DID spend hours of my day pumping and storing milk to then bottle feed when my son wouldn't latch and when he was in the NICU. I spent the time to clean the pump parts just in time to start over again. How easy would it have been for me to tell the NICu staff to supplement with formula overnight instead of pumping? It would have taken no effort on my part. That would be the easy road. That would have given me more time at my son's crib side instead of in the NICU pumping room, but the time was WELL SPENT. It was worth my time to do it for my baby.
Breastfeeding has NEVER been a waste of time and it NEVER will be.
My time breastfeeding is some of the best time I've spent as a mother.
Comments
Post a Comment